Farmer-Herder Clashes in Nigeria Extend Beyond Religious Divides, U.S. Congress Told

 

A U.S. Congressional subcommittee on Africa was told that Nigeria is becoming "one of the most dangerous places in the world" for religious minorities due to violence in the northern parts of the country. However, analysts warned against viewing the country's security challenges solely through a religious lens.

During a special hearing on the West African nation, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Markudi Diocese testified that the influence of Islamist groups and predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen has "changed the traditional and social dynamics" of Nigeria. Despite being a secular state as per the constitution, Anagbe accused the Fulani herdsmen of killing, vandalizing, and kidnapping "with impunity" as part of a "long-term Islamic agenda" to "homogenize" the population.

Analysts say the violence in northern Nigeria stems from a variety of factors, including political, ethnic, and social issues - not just religious ones. The campaign by the extremist group Boko Haram, along with banditry and criminal gangs, has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. There are also ongoing conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and Christian farmers over resources, which have taken on a religious dimension.

Oge Onubogu, a witness from the Wilson Center's Africa program, noted that ethnicity, religion, and language, rather than nationality, are the "benchmarks" of identity for Nigeria's highly diverse population. She said politicians often stoke these divisions for political gain. Onubogu urged the U.S. government to develop a "holistic and long-term vision" for engaging with Nigeria on issues of governance and security, and to work with individual states as well.

The hearing also discussed Nigeria's designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom, a status that was reversed in 2021 but may be reconsidered.